Howling Hearts

Death or Rescue

I cuddle into the warmth of my mate, smelling her scent. It has never grown to bore me but only grown stronger in my heart. As I get lost in her scent, a sudden frantic knock pulls me back to sanity. I walked up quickly to the door to try my best not to wake my tired mate or my fresh newborn son who was born only hours ago. I exited quietly and shut the door behind me before I made eye contact with the very disturbed head warrior of my pack,

My heart started pumping quickly as I knew this man had seen a lot in his life and very few things could disturb him as such. ‘What is the matter, Damion”. I asked wearily. His eyes seem like they are searching for the right answers but not finding the words to describe what’s wrong.“Alpha Caleb, just follow me please.” He sounds defeated.

I hurry behind him as he leads me outside and to the Pack Gates. As we reached the Gates, I heard that sound that broke my heart in half. “A baby?’ I asked him with my eyes wide. “Is it a family that is in need of shelter?” I asked him, not knowing I was far from right. “No Alpha.” He seemed so secretive. The crying continued but it wasn’t a normal baby cry. It was a saddened cry. A loud, prolonged, mournful cry. One to make any mother's heart shatter.

As the gates screeched opening wide, I saw the basket in the middle of the road. The child was just left there for death or rescue which ever were to come first. I gulp the knot that formed in my throat at this sad sight. I looked at my men in horror. ‘Well any sign of the mother?” I asked with urgency. “No Sir, there is no scent and no tracks and no one was spotted dropping the baby off” They said with their heads down and with pity towards this child.

I walk up to the baby to maybe catch a scent of the mother but there is nothing. I do smell that the child is of wolf blood. As I look at the sweet child just lost and looking for love. I saw a note on her. “Accept me?” The note stated. I took hold of the child and walked back inside the open gates and towards the pack house. The clouds were waging war against one another in the sky giving off loud bangs, but the baby just stared up to look at the streaks of lightning dancing between the chaos.

“Knock, Knock, Knock”. I stood there waiting a while till I saw the lights go on inside and the door opened slowly revealing a barely awake Rylan. My Beta. “What may I help you with Alpha Caleb?” His eyes widened in shock but quickly turned into a huge and proud smile. “Congratulations on your new ba..” I cut him off before he could continue.” Thank you for your care and kindness Rylan, But.. .’ I slowly look down towards the child in my arms. ‘This child is not mine she was left at the border gates and with no parent or anyone traced only with a note saying accept me? So…” Before I could finish his Mate Celeste ran to the door with the excitement a child would have on Christmas.

They’ve been struggling to conceive another after the birth of their first daughter. Me and Rylan have been best friends all my life, so I knew him and he knew me. My other chosen half not one destined by the moon but destined by the pack as brothers in ruling. Celeste slowly took the baby from my arms, holding the child near her chest. I then knew she was safe. “We will name her Scarlet’ she said, and continued back to her room. “Thank you Caleb”, Rylan said with a tear almost gliding down his cheek. Maybe this was the moon goddess’s gift to them. “Oh by the way, thank you for the congratulations. Asher was born just 2 hours ago, so your efforts weren’t in vain.” This time his smile got even brighter. “Goodnight Rylan.” I said before going back to my mate.

As I feared, she was sitting up in bed waiting for me. I couldn’t hide anything from her. “Where did you disappear to?” she asked with an eyebrow arched in judgement. “Well, a baby was left at our gates. So I asked Rylan and Celeste to take her in as their own.” Jealousy was prominent in her eyes. “Why didn’t you bring her to me, why couldn’t we keep her’ she said pouting. “Well do you think we could handle both?” I said slowly turning my head to the baby crib in the room with our new born Asher in sleeping peaceful. “You’ve got a point” she said in defeat. Leaning back onto the headboard, Who knows, maybe she might turn out to be Asher’s mate.”